Aerosol dispenser



Feb. 24, 1-970 1', F. BOMBERQ ET AL 3,497,110

AEROSOL DISPENSER Filed April 12, 1968 IN VE N TORS THOMA S E BOMBEROOBERTPMORE W M ATT'YS United States Patent US. Cl. 222146 14 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for use with a pressurizedaerosol-type dispenser which is characterized by an inverted cup-shapedchamber forming cap member adapted to be secured on the top of thecontainer and having openings in oppositely disposed wall portions forpassing liquid therethrough so as to raise or lower the temperature ofheat transfer elements confined in a housing which is positioned in thefluid accommodating chamber and the interior of which is incommunication with the discharge outlet of a valve controlling thedispensing of the product so that when the valve is opened the productwill flow through the heat exchanger and emerge from a discharge outletdisposed in a spout provided in the cap member, the cap member beingmounted in rotatable and vertically reciprocable relation on a mountingring on the top of the container and in one position thereofco-operating with the heat exchanger for manually operating thedispensing valve, and co-operating stop means on the cap and mountingring for limiting the movements of the cap, and lock means forreleasably locking the cap in a non-operative position where it cannotbe depressed to open the valve.

This invention relates to the dispensing of products from pressurizedaerosol-type packages and is more particularly concerned withimprovements in dispensing apparatus which incorporates a means foreffecting a change in the temperature of the product as it is dispensed.

Aerosol-type dispenser packages have been provided heretofore forproducts which it is desirable to make available for use at atemperature which differs from the temperature of the package, forexample, shaving lather, shampoos and similar products, usuallydispensed in the form of a foam. One such package is described inWeidman et a1. Patent No. 3,292,823 wherein the container is providedwith an inverted cup-shaped chamber forming cap which is fixed on top ofthe container and encloses a heat exchanger, with a hinge section in thetop of the cap which contacts the top of the heat exchanger and operatesthe discharge valve, when it is depressed, the heat exchanger comprisingheat transfer elements enclosed within a container having a connectionwith the valve outlet so that the product emerging from the outletpasses through the heat exchanger and contacts the heat transferelements, which, in the case of a shaving lather, raises the temperatureaccording to the temperature of water or other fluid which is passedthrough the chamber in which the heat exchanger is confined for apredetermined period prior to opening of the discharge valve in thecontainer.

It is a general object of the present invention-to provide apparatus forincorporation in an aerosol-type dispenser package which is designed tofacilitate the use of aheat transfer device for changing the temperatureof the product as it emerges from the discharge valve of the pressurizedcontainer.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a chamberforming member for mounting on the top of an aerosol container so as toenclose a heat exchanger device and enable the same to be subjected to afluid of a 3,497,110 Patented Feb. 24, 1970 different temperature afterwhich the product is passed through the exchanger so as to effect achange in the temperature of the product.

It is another object of the invention to provide in an aerosol-typedispenser package a chamber forming, inverted, cup-shaped cap memberwhich is connected to the top of the package with provision forrotatable and vertical reciprocation and which has inlet and outletopenings in oppositely disposed relation for enabling a fluid to bepassed there through so as to raise or lower the temperature of a heattransfer device confined within the chamber, the heat transfer devicebeing disposed in the chamber and being connected to the discharge valveso as to operate the valve upon depression of the cap member when it isin a predetermined rotative position, and the cap member being carriedon a mounting ring with guide members and co-operating stop members forlimiting the movement of the cap member and for releasably locking thecap member against valve opening movement.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the aerosoltype dispenser package which is shownby way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the dispensing side of anaerosol-type dispenser package with a valve operating structure whichincorporates the principal features of the invention, with portions ofthe container broken away;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the top portion of the opposite side of thepackage shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the top portion of the package shown inFIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale, the view being taken on a vertical planeindicated at 33 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section to a smaller scale taken on line 44 ofFIGURE 3 with the heat exchanger being omitted;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded, perspective view showing the structure at thetop portion of the package of FIG- URE 1; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevation, to an enlarged scale, showing aportion of the cap mounting ring structure, the view being taken on theplane indicated at 6-6 in FIGURE 4.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a pressurizedaerosol-type package having mounted on the top thereof a valve controlstructure which embodies the principal features of the invention, thepackage being designed for dispensing products such as shaving lather,shampoos, or the like, where it is desirable to change the temperatureof the product as it is dispensed, in a simple and convenient manner as,for example, by incorporating in the apparatus a heat exchange device,the temperature of which may be changed by holding it for a relativelyshort period in a liquid of a different temperature such as the hotwater from an ordinary bathroom faucet or the like.

The apparatus which is illustrated comprises three members which areassembled and mounted on the top of an aerosol container 10 within whichthe product to be dispensed is contained together with a propellantmaterial under pressure so that operation of a valve mechanism 11 whichis mounted in the top of the container 10 results in the discharge ofthe product mixed, or carried by the propellant material through ahollow valve stem 12 projecting upwardly of an island 13 in the centerof the container closure cap 14 in which the valve assembly 11 ismounted. The apparatus which provides for control of the operation ofthe valve assembly 11 and the heating of the product as it is dispensedcomprises an inner base or mounting ring member 15, a shroud-like outercap or top member 16 and a heat exchanger device 17. The cap member 16,which is of inverted cup-shape form, and which provides a chamber 18within which the heat exchanger 17 is confined, is mounted forrotational and vertical movement on the mounting ring which is in turnsecured in fixed relation to the bead-like seam 20 connecting the rim ofthe closure member 14 to the mouth of the container 10. The heatexchanger 17, which is adapted to be loosely locked in the chamber 18,comprises a cylindrical container or housing 22 having heat transferelements (not shown) therein which is provided with a pocket formingrecess 23 in the bottom wall 24 in which the top of the valve stem 12 isadapted to be seated. An opening 25 in the center of the pocket 23 isdisposed so that the product discharged through the valve stem 12 willpass into the housing 22 and be discharged therefrom through a spout 26extending radially at the top of the container 22. The valve assembly 11which is, of course, normally closed, is opened for the discharge of theproduct through the valve stem 12 upon depressing the heat exchanger 17.

The chamber forming top cap member 16 (FIGURE 3) has a relatively largeopening 30 in the back side wall and openings 31 and 32 in the frontside wall and the top wall, respectively. The openings 31 and 32 are disposed opposite the opening 30 and are below and above a spout 33projecting forwardly of the front wall of the cap member 16 throughwhich the product is directed by the spout 26 on the heat exchanger 17.Reinforcing struts 34 form a grid-like arrangement in the spout 33. Thetop wall 35 of the cap member 16 is spaced above the top wall of theheat exchanger 17 and carries depending lugs 36 on the bottom facethereof which extend to a short distance above the top wall of the heatexchanger 17 and which are eugageable with the same so as to depress theheat exchanger 17 upon the application of downward pressure on the topwall 35 of the cap member 16. The open bottom face of the cap member 16is of larger diameter than the maximum diameter of the mounting ring 15so that the side walls telescope over the same and the cap member 16 isfree to move vertically within limits defined by a series ofperipherally spaced, radially inwardly extending lugs 37 which projectbeneath the margins of the ring member 15 and lock the cap member ontothe same and the vertically spaced stop members 38 which extend inwardlyin peripherally spaced relation about the interior of the side wall ofthe cap member 16. The radially extending lugs 38 have a dual functionwhich will be hereinafter described.

The mounting ring or inner base member 15 which mounts the apparatus onthe container 10 has a central opening 40 through which the valve stem12 extends and a downwardly facing, peripherally extending recess 41which receives the rim member 20 so that the ring member 15 may befrictionally secured thereon. The ring member 15 may be held againstrotation about the axis of the container 10 by a small lug 42 on the rimof the closure member 14 extending radially into a radial slot 43 in thebottom of the ring member 15. Two pairs of post forming members 45extend upwardly of the top face of the ring member 15, at the margins ofthe latter, which are disposed on opposite sides thereof and spaced fromeach other. When the cap member 16 is assembled with the mounting ringmember 15 the posts 45 are disposed immediatel within the side walls ofthe cap 16 and provide vertical surfaces forming a guide for movement ofthe cap 16 in both rotational and vertical directions. Cam track formingsections 46 are provided at three points spaced about the periphery ofthe mounting ring member 15 which are provided for co-operation with thecam follower surfaces 47 on the bottom face of each of the radial lugs38 on the inner wall of the cap member 16. Each cam section 46 comprisesan upper surface or track portion 50 and a lower track portion 51 withan inclined connecting portion 52. The lowermost track portion orsection 51 is located substantially below the top face of the ringmember 15 and provides clearance for the associated lug follower 38 topermit the cap 16 to be depressed sufiiciently to open the valve 11. Thetop portion 50 of the cam track is divided into two sections with thesection remote from the tapered portion 52, indicated at 53, being in aslightly lower plane so that when the cam follower surface 47 rides upon the inclined portion 52 and across the top track portion it dropsinto the track portion 53 and is locked against both rotational andvertical reciprocal movement. In this position the lugs 38 are held sothat the cap member 16 cannot be depressed to operate the valve 11. Thedifference in elevation between the two top track portions is relativelysmall and the lugs 38 can be sprung out of the depressed track portions53 by application of suflicient rotational torque so as to free the cap16 for rotational movement to the position where the lugs 38 are abovethe lowermost track portion 51 and vertical movement for operation ofthe valve is permitted. The cap member 16 is provided with a ribbedportion 55 on the top face to indicate where pressure should be appliedto depress the cap and appropriate indicia is printed on or otherwiseapplied to the top surface to indicate the direction of rotation toplace the cap member 16 in the locked position and in the open positionwhich permits operation of the valve 11.

The top or cap member 16 and the mounting ring 15 may be fabricated of asuitable molded plastic having the necessary heat resistancecharacteristics and the durability required so as to withstandtemperature changes and the abuse which may be expected in use. In theassembly of the apparatus the mounting ring may be secured on thecontainer top and the heat exchanger 17 positioned on the valve stem 12after which the cap 16 may be telescoped over the posts 45 and forceddown into locked position with the lugs 37 having sufiicient resilienceto spring by the marginal edge of the ring 15 and snap beneath the same.This results in the heat exchanger 17 being loosely contained in the cap16 and the latter being manually rotatable and vertically movable,within the limits determined by the stop members, between valveoperating and non-operating positions.

In using the apparatus the cap 16 is rotatable between the open positionwhere it may be depressed to operate the valve 11 for discharge of theproduct or it may be rotated to the locked position where the lugs 38are seated in the cam track portions 53 and the cap 16 cannot bedepressed so long as it remains in that position. The lugs 38 may beforced out of the depressions 53 by rotation of the cap 16. The capopenings 30, 31 and 32, of course, permit the assembly to be held undera faucet, for example, for the passage of sufficient hot water to raisethe temperature of the heat exchanger so that the product will be heatedas it passes through the exchanger. Any other source of liquid may, ofcourse, be employed and the product may be heated or cooled dependingupon the temperature of the liquid employed.

While particular materials and specific details of con struction arereferred to in describing the dispenser package, which is illustrated,it will be understood that other suitable materials and equivalentstructural details may be resorted to within the spirit of theinvention.

We claim:

1. An aerosol-type dispenser package comprising a con tainer adapted toenclose a product to be dispensed and a pressurized propellant, saidcontainer having a top closure with a discharge valve mounted thereinwhich includes a hollow valve stem through which the product isdischarged when the valve is opened by depressing of the valve stem, acap mounting ring fixed on the top of said container, and inverted cupshaped cap member having an open bottom seated in telescoping relationfor rotational and vertical movement on said mounting ring, said capmember providing a chamber for accommodating a heat exchanger device,said heat exchanger device being mounted on said valve stem within saidchamber, and said cap member having means engaging the heat exchangerdevice and cooperating therewith, in one position of said cap, wherebyto enable the valve stem to be depressed by application of downwardpressure on the cap member so as to open the discharge valve.

2. An aerosol-type dispenser package as set forth in claim 1 and saidcap member having inlet and outlet openings in oppositely disposed sidewall portions thereof for enabling a stream of fluid of a differenttemperature to be passed through the chamber in which the heat exchangerdevice is disposed.

3. An aerosol-type dispenser package as set forth in claim 1 and saidcap member having side walls which telescope over said cap mounting ringand vertically spaced stop members on the inside of said side wallswhich limit the vertical movement of said cap member relative to saidcap mounting ring.

4. An aerosol-type dispenser package as set forth in claim 3 and saidcap mounting ring having means forming vertically extending abutmentsurfaces cooperating with certain of said stop members for limiting therotational movement of said cap member.

5. An aerosol-type dispenser package comprising a container adapted toenclose a product to be dispensed and a pressurized propellant, saidcontainer having a top closure with a discharge valve mounted thereinwhich includes a hollow valve stem through which the product isdischarged when the valve is opened by depressing of the valve stem, acap mounting ring fixed on the top of said container and an inverted cupshaped cap member seated for rotational and vertical movement on saidmounting ring, said cap providing a chamber for accommodating a heatexchanger device and cooperating therewith, in one position of said cap,to enable the valve stem to be depressed by'application of downwardpressure on the cap so as to open the discharge valve, said cap memberhaving side walls which telescope over said cap mounting ring withcircumferentially spaced stop members on the inside face thereof, andsaid cap mounting ring having upstanding, circumferentially spaced,guide forming post members which cooperate with said stop members tolimit the rotational movement of said cap member.

6. An aerosol-type dispenser package comprising a container adapted toenclose a product to be dispensed and a pressurized propellant, saidcontainer having a top closure with a discharge valve mounted thereinwhich includes a hollow valve stem through which the product isdischarged when the valve is opened by depressing of the valve stem, acap mounting ring fixed on the top of said container and an inverted cupshaped cap member seated for rotational and vertical movement on saidmounting ring, said cap providing a chamber for accommodating a heatexchanger device and cooperating therewith, in one position of said cap,to enable the valve stem to be depressed by application of downwardpressure on the cap so as to open the discharge valve, said cap memberhaving depending side wall portions which telescope said cap mountingring, lug members extending inwardly of said side wall portions invertically spaced relation which limit the vertical movement of said capmember, and said cap mounting ring having means forming cam tracks whichcooperate with certain of said lug members to control the verticalmovement of said cap member.

7. An aerosol-type dispenser package as set forth in claim 6 and saidcam tracks forming means having an uppermost track portion which isdivided so as to form on one part thereof, a seat for releasably lockingtherein certain of said lug members so as to hold the cap in an elevatedposition and prevent operation of the discharge valve.

8. An apparatus for mounting on the top of an aerosoltype containerwhich is adapted to enclose a pressurized product to be dispensed andwhich has a dispensing valve supported in the top thereof with anupstanding hollow valve stem through which the product is dischargedwhen the valve is opened by depressing the valve stem, said apparatuscomprising a mounting ring member adapted to be seated on the top of thecontainer so as to encompass the upstanding valve stem and a cap memberof inverted cup shape form having an open bottom which is adapted to bedisposed with the side walls thereof telescoping over the mounting ringso as to have a limited vertical movement and to form a chamber forreceiving a heat exchanger device, said heat exchanger device beingmounted within said chamber so that when downward force is applied tothe top of the cap member the heat exchanger device will depress thevalve stem and open the valve for discharge of the product.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and said mounting ring memberhaving a center opening through which said valve stem is adapted toextend and a recess in the bottom face adapted to receive in frictionalengagement a sealing bead formation on the top of the container.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and said cap member havingopenings in oppositely disposed relation in the side walls which permita fluid to be passed through the chamber in which the heat exchangerdevice is received so as to enable the temperature of the heat exchangerdevice to be changed by subjecting it to a stream of fluid of adifferent temperature.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and cooperating cam means onthe cap member and mounting ring member for limiting the verticalmovement of the cap member and for releasably locking the same in aposition which prevents opening of the dispensing valve.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 and cooperating cam track andcam follower means on the mounting ring member and the inner wall of thecap member, respectively, for controlling the vertical movement of thecap member.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 and said cam track meanshaving a portion on which the cam follower means is adapted to be seatedso as to releasably lock the cap member against rotation when it is in araised position where it cannot be depressed to open the dispensingvalve.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 and said cam track meanshaving a portion forming a pocket in which the cam follower means isadapted to be seated so as to releasably hold the cap member againstrotation and in an elevated position which prevents operation of thedispensing valve by pressure applied to the top of the cap member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,171,572 3/1965 Reich et al.222--146 3,185,350 5/1965 Abplanalp et al. 222402.11 3,273,610 9/1966Frost 222-402.13 X 3,291,346 12/1966 Marraffino 222*146 X 3,175,7333/1965 Lerner 222146 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner H. S. LANE,Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 222402.l3

